mh_parser/scraps/Gen_41_1-Gen_41_8.html
2023-12-17 15:08:46 -05:00

2 lines
3.0 KiB
HTML
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

<p>Observe, 1. The delay of Josephs enlargement. It was not till <i>the end of two full years</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Gen.41.1" href="/passage/?search=Gen.41.1">Gen. 41:1</a>); so long he waited after he had entrusted the chief butler with his case and began to have some prospect of relief. Note, We have need of patience, not only bearing, but waiting, patience. Joseph lay in prison until the time that his word came, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.105.19" href="/passage/?search=Ps.105.19">Ps. 105:19</a>. There is a time set for the deliverance of Gods people; that time will come, though it seem to tarry; and, when it comes, it will appear to have been the best time, and therefore we ought to wait for it (<a class="bibleref" title="Hab.2.3" href="/passage/?search=Hab.2.3">Hab. 2:3</a>), and not think two full years too long to continue waiting. 2. The means of Josephs enlargement, which were Pharaohs dreams, here related. If we were to look upon them as ordinary dreams, we might observe from them the follies and absurdities of a roving working fancy, how it represents to itself tame cows as beasts of prey (nay, more ravenous than any, eating up those of their own kind), and ears of corn as devouring one another. Surely in the multitude of dreams, nay, even in one dream, there are divers vanities, <a class="bibleref" title="Eccl.5.7" href="/passage/?search=Eccl.5.7">Eccl. 5:7</a>. Now that God no longer speaks to us in that way, I think it is no matter how little we either heed them or tell them. Foolish dreams related can make no better than foolish talk. But these dreams which Pharaoh dreamed carried their own evidence with them that they were sent of God; and therefore, when he awoke, his spirit was troubled, <a class="bibleref" title="Gen.41.8" href="/passage/?search=Gen.41.8">Gen. 41:8</a>. It cannot but put us into a concern to receive any extraordinary message from heaven, because we are conscious to ourselves that we have no reason to expect any good tidings thence. His magicians were puzzled, the rules of their art failed them: these dreams of Pharaoh, it seems, did not fall within the compass of them, so that they could not offer at the interpretation of them. This was to make Josephs performance by the Spirit of God the more admirable. Human reason, prudence, and foresight, must be nonplussed, that divine revelation may appear the more glorious in the contrivance of our redemption, <a class="bibleref" title="1Cor.2.13,1Cor.2.14" href="/passage/?search=1Cor.2.13,1Cor.2.14"><span class="bibleref" title="1Cor.2.13">1 Cor. 2:13</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="1Cor.2.14">14</span></a>. Compare with this story, <a class="bibleref" title="Dan.2.27,Dan.4.7,Dan.5.8" href="/passage/?search=Dan.2.27,Dan.4.7,Dan.5.8"><span class="bibleref" title="Dan.2.27">Dan. 2:27</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Dan.4.7">4:7</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Dan.5.8">5:8</span></a>. Josephs own dreams were the occasion of his troubles, and now Pharaohs dreams were the occasion of his enlargement.</p>